Boat structure



.lune 7, 1938. L CHASE 2,119,775

BOAT STRUCTURE I Filed Deo. 24, 1954 v 2 sheets-sheet 1 y. CHASE BOAT STRUCTURE Jun- 7, 193,8.l

2 Sheets-611%?.`4 2

Filed Deo. 24, 1934 Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOAT STRUCTURE New Jersey Application December 24, 1934, Serial No. 758,981

Claims.

This invention relates to boat structures, in which two hulls are connected together in spaced substantially parallel relation in such a way as to produce a craft possessing unusual seaworthi- 5 ness, and maneuvering ability which may be operated at high speeds in rough water, and is capable of transporting heavy loads.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a boat structure of the character stated particularly suitable for naval use, this structure being suitable for use as a crash boat, for mine sweeping and mine laying operations, for transporting landing parties, and for many other purposes in connection with naval operations. A further object is to provide a structure of the character stated in which the means connecting the hulls may be readily detached therefrom, each hull, when detached, constituting a separate and complete boat suitable for use in patrol service and for other purposes. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a plan View of the boat structure embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the boat structure indicating the manner in which the connections between the hulls accommodate relative pitch thereof;

Figure 3 is a front view of the structure illustrating the manner in which the connections between the hulls prevent relative roll thereof;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure l, on an enlarged scale; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, parts being shown in elevation, taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure l, on an enlarged scale.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, lo shown by way of example, two hulls I are disposed in spaced parallel relation, each hull being provided with a suitable power plant, propellers, rudders and accessories whereby each unit is, in fact, a complete motor boat suitable for patrol service and various other uses, when the two hulls are detached. Each hull is provided, adjacent the stern thereof and forward of its mid-portion, with a supporting member 2 extending into and suitably secured to the hull. Each of the members 2 is suitably attached, as by means of .a threaded shank 4, to a universal joint, conveniently a ball .and socket joint 5, 6, ball 6 of which is connected by a reduced neck 'I to an enlargement 8, at the adjacent end of a rod or spar 9 extending between the hulls and normally disposed substantially perpendicular thereto. The spars 9 are thus attached to the hulls so as to hold them in predetermined substantially parallel spaced relation, and the connections between the spars and the hulls consti- 5 tute ball and socket joints effective for accommodating relative and independent pitch, i. e., fore and aft rocking or tilting movement of the hulls, `the spars and the joints thus providing flexible connections between the hulls suitable 10 for this purpose.

Each hull is further provided, preferably'midway between the sleeves 2, with a sleeve I0 extending transversely of the hull and for the major portion of the width thereof. This sleeve is suitably secured to braces II and I2 within the hull structure (Figure 4), and the axes of sleeves 2 and III are disposed in a common plane, as in Figure 2. A trunnion member, in the form of a tubular shaft I3 (Figure 4), extends between the hulls, the end portions of this member constituting trunnions I4 which t snugly into sleeves I0 and have relative turning and sliding movements therein, the trunnions I4 extending into sleeves Ill for the greater portion of the length of the latter. The member I3, including the trunnions I4, cooperates with sleeves I0 to prevent relative roll, i. e., lateral rocking or tilting, of the hulls, as will be obvious, while the spars 9 .and the connections between the latter and the hulls accommodate relative pitch of the hulls, as previously noted. In the structure thus far described, I have provided means for maintaining the hulls in spaced and substantially parallel relation while accommodating relative and independent pitch of the hulls and preventing relative roll thereof.

Two frame members I5 are suitably secured, as by welding, to trunnion member I3 adjacent collars I6 secured on the latter at the inner ends` of the trunnions I4, as shown in Figure 2. The frame members I5 are of .approximately V-shape in plan and project from opposite sides of member I3, these frame members being disposed in a common horizontal plane. Members I3 and I5 constitute a frame upon which is suitably secured a platform I'I, of suitable shape provided with an upwardly projecting shield IIa extending about its periphery. The central portion of this platform is arched over the upper portion of member I3 (Figure 4) and the platform I'I ts snugly between collars I6 so as to be confined thereby against lateral movement lengthwise of trunnio-n member I3. The members I3 and I5 and the platform I'I constitute a platform structure disposed between the spars 9 and the hulls I and spaced from the latter.

Each frame member I5 is provided, at the vertex thereof, with a trunnion I8 rigid with the frame member and projecting outwardly beyond the end of the platform. The trunnions I8 lit through collars I9 formed integrally with spars 9 at the mid, point thereof, the collars and the associated trunnions having relative sliding and turning movement. Since the trunnions I8 are disposed coaxially on the longitudinal axis of platform II, and trunnion member I3 is disposed substantially at the center of platform I1 length- Wise thereof, relative and independent pitch of the hulls I will not cause appreciable movement of the platform on the axis of member I3, since the sleeves I9 are free to turn on the trunnions I 8. This will be clear from Figure 2 in which the positions assumed by the spars 9 due to relative pitch of the hulls are indicated by dot and dash lines, the position of the common axis of the trunnions I9, which is also the lengthwise axis of platform I'I, being indicated by the dot and dash line a. It will thus be seen that no objectionable fore and aft tilting movement is imparted to the platform structure even though the hulls I may have considerable relative and independent pitch.

In Figure 3 it is assumed that the structure is rolling but not pitching. In this view, the normal positions of the respective hulls I is shown in full lines, the positions which the hulls assume due to rolling being indicated by dotted lines. For clearness of illustration, the spars 9 and trunnion member I3, as well as the frame members I5, are indicated by dot and dash lines. If it be assumed that the structure rolls toward the right, hull I at the right of the structure will tilt outward of the structure into the dotted line position shown, and hull I at the left of the structure will tilt inward thereof into the dotted line position as sho-wn, the amount of tilting or roll of the hulls being the same, since the hulls are incapable of relative rolling, due to the provision of the trunnion member I3 and sleeves I0, as previously noted. When the structure rolls in the manner indicated in Figure 3, trunnion member I3 will be moved from its normal horizontal position into the position of dotted line I3a, with corresponding lateral tilting of platform I'I. At this time spars 9 will also be inclined into positions approximating parallelism with dotted line I3a, the positions which the spars assume at this time not being shown, in order to avoid confusion of illustration.

As previously noted, each of the hulls I is provided with an independent power plant, propeller and rudder, the rudders being operable independently of each other. This is advantageous in that either of the hulls may be propelled and steered independently of the other rendering it possible to make quick turns when necessary. Further, in the event that the power plant of one of the hulls is disabled the power plant of the other hull is available for propelling and steering the structure.

The structure as a whole is exceptionally seaworthy, possesses great stability and can be operated at high speed in rough water. The platform structure is well adapted for reception of loads of various sorts, and, due to the ample clearance between the hulls and the platform, is well suited for use in mine laying and mine sweeping operations, as well as for many other purposes such as salvage and rescue Work, trans,-

porting landing parties, etc. If desired, the means for connecting the hulls can be detached therefrom with expedition and facility, thus rendering available for use in patrol service and for other purposes two separate and independent motor boats.

While I have disclosed a preferred means for connecting the hulls together, it is not essential that the specific means illustrated be employed since the desired results may be accomplished by other means of the same general character. In its broader aspects, my invention comprehends jmeans Vfor suitably connecting together two or more hulls in substantially predetermined spaced parallel relation and'in such manner as to accommodate relativeV and independent pitch of the hulls while preventing relative ro-ll thereof, the resulting structure possessing great stability, maneuverability and seaworthiness, and being suitable for transporting heavy loads and for various purposes in naval operations, It will be understood, by those skilled in the art, that vari-` ous changes in construction and arrangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to Without departing from the field and the scope of the same, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the` appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of my invention is. disclosed.

What I claim is:-

1. In combination in a boat structure of the character described, two hulls disposed in spaced parallel relation, two spars extending between the hulls substantially perpendicular thereto and spaced apart lengthwise of the hulls, universal connections between the ends of the spars and the hulls, a platform structure disposed between the spars and the hulls and spaced from the latter, coaxial trunnions rigid with and projecting from the sides of said structure midway of the length thereof and fitting in the hulls transversely thereof for relative turning and sliding movements, and connections between the ends of said structure and said spars comprising interengaging coaxial members having relative turning and sliding movements on an axis extending between and parallel to said hulls, and disposed for supporting said structure while accommodating relative movement between the latter and said spars.

2. In combination in a boat structure of the character described, two hulls disposed in spaced parallel relation, two spars extendng between the hulls substantially perpendicular theretoand spaced apart lengthwise of the hulls, universal connections between the ends of the spars and the hulls, a platform structure disposed between the sp-ars and the hulls and spaced from the latter, trunnions rigid with and projecting from the sides of said structure and fitting in the hulls for relative turning and sliding movements, and connections between the ends of said structure and said spars comprising interengaging members having relative turning and sliding movements and disposed for supporting said structure while accommodating relative movement between the latter and said spars, the relative sliding movement of said trunnions permitting relative movement of said hulls toward and away from each other incident to relative pitch thereof.

3. In combination in a boat structure of the character described, two hulls disposed in spaced parallel relation, two spars extending between the hulls substantially perpendicular thereto and spaced apart lengthwise of the hulls, each spar being provided midway of its length with a collar and said collars being aligned on a common axis extending fore and aft of the hulls, each hull being provided with a transversely extending sleeve disposed between the spars, universal connections between the ends of the spars and the hulls, a rigid frame disposed between the spars and the hulls and spaced from the latter, coaxial trunnions rigid with and projecting from the sides of the frame centrally thereof and fitting into said sleeves, said trunnions and the sleeves having relative turning and sliding movements on an axis extending transversely of said hulls, and trunnions rigid with and projecting from the ends of the frame and tting into said collars, the collars and the associated trunnions having relative turning and sliding movements, all of said trunnions and the spars normally being in a common plane.

4. In combination in a boat structure of the character described, two hulls disposed in spaced parallel relation, two spars extending between the hulls substantially perpendicular thereto and spacedapart lengthwise of the hulls, each spar being provided midway of its length with a collar and said collars being aligned on a common axis extending fore and aft of the hulls, eac-h hull being provided with a transversely extending `sleeve disposed between the spars, universal connections between the ends of the spars and the hulls, a rigid frame disposed between the spars and the hulls and spaced from the latter, coaxial trunnions rigid with and projecting from the sides of the frame centrally thereof and fitting into said sleeves, said trunnions and the Sleeves having relative turning and sliding movementsl on an axis extending transversely of said hulls, and trunnions rigid with and projecting from the ends of the frame and tting into said collars, the collars and the associated trunnions having relative turning and sliding movements.

5. In combination in a boat structure of the character described, two hulls disposed in spaced parallel relation, two spars extending between the hulls substantially perpendicular thereto and spaced apart lengthwise of the hulls, each lspar being provided midway of its length with a collar and said collars being aligned on a common axis extending fore and aft of the hulls, each hull being provided with a transversely extending sleeve disposed between the spars, universal connections between the ends of the spars and the hulls, a rigid platform structure disposed between the spars and the hulls and spaced from the latter, coaxial trunnions rigid with and projecting from the sides of said structure and fitting into said sleeves, said trunnions and the sleeves having relative turning and Sliding movements on an axis extending transversely of said hulls, and trunnions rigid with and projecting from the ends of said structure and fitting into `said collars, the collars and the associated trunnions having relative turning and sliding movements.

IRWIN CHASE. 

